fall inside a hole
Double Track Plarail Express Train with Elevated Track Set (1972)
Originally written March 16, 2024
The Double Track Plarail Express Train with Elevated Track Set (ふくせんプラレール特急電車高架つきセット) was released in 1972 in a "merry-go-round" mark box and includes a nice amount of double rail standard track with enough bridge piers to elevate the entire layout. This was the last set to refer to the original Fukusen Plarail name.
My example has a rather worn-out box but the contents themselves are in pretty nice condition for their age. A few years prior, a similar set with an original tooling Express Train was released without the elevation elements. The G-21 mark implies this box was printed between October 1972 and 1973. Some boxes for this set, like this one, include a sticker celebrating 100 years since the opening of Japan's first railroad in 1872. Both box types can be seen in the Plarail Museum.
Set contents| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 3 pieces | Express Train |
 |
| 1 | R-04 Double Track Straight Rail |
 |
| 8 | R-05 Double Track Curved Rail |
 |
| 1 | R-15 Double Track Point Rail (lever type) |
 |
| 2 | J-03 Iron Bridge side pieces |
 |
| 10 | J-15 Double Track Bridge Girder |
 |
| 8 | Double Rail Catenary |
 |
The Express Train is the name given to the early 1970s Plarail version of the 485 series electric passenger trains. The bonnet is nice with simple but effective stickers. This train is from the era where Tomy often shifted the color of real-life trains for their Plarail releases.
This early 1970s train has the old chunky style of couplings and an all-metal old power gearbox. Up through the introduction of "hi-power" trains in the early 2000s it was recommended to only run three-car trains, and although most gearboxes newer than these ones can handle five or six cars pretty easily, if not more, with these old thin tires on all-smooth rails it makes more sense.
The double rail standard was still somewhat recent at the time, with this being the last set to specifically refer to its original name and series. The set makes up an elevated oval of double rail with a double track point rail as well as iron bridge sides to make up a double track iron bridge. The old large rails have shrunk somewhat, in particularly the point which is buckling upwards.
The set also includes enough double track bridge girders and catenary to elevate the whole electrified layout...
Elevated switches are a little uncommon, and double rail looks so nice especially elevated on the beautiful old bridge piers...
Adding a second train makes for even more fun, especially with the double track point rail.
| Set name | Double Track Plarail Express Train
with Elevated Track Set ふくせんプラレール特急電車高架つきセット |
Release period | 1972 |
| Train rating |
  
| Track rating |
|
| Accessory rating |
| Overall |
|
| Notes: |